Glicer Nalvarte serves as an Executive Administrative Assistant. Raised in Montgomery County, Maryland, Glicer completed a Masters of Education from the University of Maryland in Human Development. For the past 15 years, she has worked to provide administrative support in the field of healthcare administration. Glicer is the mother of two active daughters and supports them on the soccer field and dance stage.
Staff
Ronel Lefranc
Ronel Lefranc is Groundswell International’s Haiti Program Coordination and Support Consultant. He has over ten years of experience managing holistic development programs and projects in Haiti to address critical development issues, including youth capacity building, sustainable agriculture, food security, environmental protection, and community development. As an engaging leader, Ronel co-founded several development initiatives in Haiti including ACTIVEH, Haiti’s largest youth organization. Before joining Groundswell, Ronel worked for five years as Program Director for Partenariat pour le Développement Local (PDL), Groundswell’s partner in Haiti. Ronel holds a Bachelor’s in agriculture and environmental sciences from the University of Quisqueya and Dartmouth College, and a Master’s in Global Development and Social Justice from St. John’s University.
Peter Gubbels
Peter Gubbels is Groundswell International’s Senior Advisor for West Africa and is one of Groundswell’s co-founders. He has 38 years of experience in rural development, including over 28 years living and working in West Africa. Peter is the co-author of From the Roots Up: Strengthening Organizational Capacity through Guided Self-Assessment. He has also written numerous articles, research reports, evaluations, case studies and policy briefs on agroecology. Peter was recently appointed senior fellow with the Global Evergreening Alliance, and he holds an MA in Rural Development from the University of East Anglia in Great Britain, an Honor’s degree in History from the University of Western Ontario, and a college diploma in Agricultural Production and Management.
Jamie Smith, Communications Consultant
Jamie Smith serves as Communications Consultant. She has over a decade of experience leading digital and print communications for non-profits, mid-sized corporations, and small businesses. Jamie runs a digital strategy consulting firm, partners with larger agencies as strategy support, participates as a board member on a library foundation board, and serves as vice-chair on the board of a charter school. Her academic career includes a Master’s in Management and Leadership from Montreat College, and a BA in Mass Communication from UNC Asheville.
Luisa María Castaño Hernández
Luisa María Castaño Hernández is Groundswell’s Communications Coordinator for Latin America and the Caribbean. She has experience in media in different countries, content development in multimedia and print formats, fiction and non-fiction writing and editing. She has played a leading role in the formulation and implementation of communication strategies for projects of institutions working for the preservation of cultural heritage and biodiversity, the strengthening of education and the integration of migrants. She has also participated in the development of museographic scenarios, curating exhibition cycles and educational experiences in art and science museums. She is a journalist, artist, and has a Masters in Humanistic Studies.